I disagree that a KGV, fully worked up and functioning correctly, was not a match for Bismarck. PoW's lack of work up certainly reduced her gunnery output and her lack of radar ranging resulted in a considerably loss of accuracy. Functioning radar and ~90% output would probably have given PoW 6+ hits by salvo 13wadinga wrote:No KG V on her own was a match for Bismarck, even when everything was working perfectly. They were hobbled by Washington, by playing by the rules. The Germans lied non-stop during Bismarck's construction, pretending they were complying with various Treaties whilst flouting them. See many other threads on this site. However if the RN could bring a concentration together and snuff the mighty Death Star out, why take a chance on further casualties? How ironic that it was three brave men in a stick and fabric Stringbag that laid the Beast low and served it up for slaughter?I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country.
However, lets reverse the situation:
Hood and Bismarck (RN force with Holland on Hood) engage PoW and Prinz Eugen (KM Force with Lutjens on PoW). Bismarck's radar is inoperative and her last turret was accepted from the contractors on April 27 1941.
Hood fires at PE as per the historical situation. Bismarck scores 3 hits on PoW - one forward at the WL, one amidships under the WL, and one through a boat that does no apparent damage. The hit forward would probably cause some flooding (but no loss of fuel), the hit amidships would probably strike the main belt and do very little damage as well.
Hood blows up at ~0600. Bismarck is immediately taken under fire by PoW and PE, while Bismarck's gunners hampered by the violent manoeuvres to avoid Hood lose their FC solution. Lindeman is now faced with taking on two obviously efficient opponents that have suffered no apparent damage, and Bismarck is hit by 7 14in and 20cm rounds in two minutes. What does Lindeman do?